No, I'm no expert in them and may never figure it all out, but I have had my share come and go. I've never stopped collecting them and it seems I learn something new about them every week. I was 13 at the time and I thought it was the most beautiful bow I would ever see.
I started collecting the Bear Archery bows in 1958 with a beautiful ~ 55# Kodiak. By far the most popular and commonly found bow will be a Bear Archery recurve or longbow. Some common sense precautions are necessary in the purchase and intended use of any old bow. Most of the bows made after the early 1950s are still very usable, but there are no guarantees that come with any of them. There is many a time when poor information is the rule here. Many of the local tackle shops came into business after most of these older bows were out of production. There are no current books on the market that can help identify even the age of most old bows. When was it made? Is it safe to shoot? What kind of string is best? What's the proper brace height? Lot's of questions arise, but few answers are available. For the hunter or collector that doesn't have one of these events nearby, getting information about the old Grizzly bow their father gave them or the old recurve they found at the flea market can be difficult.
There are always dealers there with tables full of new and used bows and equipment which can be inspected, and in some cases, given a try out on some targets. I'll bet some bowyer is making some new design right this moment that I can't live without.Ī quick way to gather information is to go to one of the larger traditional shoots that are becoming common all across the country. No doubt many of the best bows ever made are being made right now. Getting all the necessary information on new equipment is just a matter of a few phone calls and letters while pawing over several of the latest catalogs. Have you ever seen as many bow makers as those listed throughout the pages of Traditional Bowhunter? All are ready to make a bow to your every wish and desire. And while we're into these good old days, how about the vast equipment choices we have today?
Maintaining strong support and membership in these organizations is one very good way to keep a solid hold on the good old days.
Although with the relentless anti-hunters' threat, there is no doubt that bowhunting would cease to exist without the constant efforts of organizations like The Professional Bowhunters Society, The Pope and Young Club, The Wildlife Legislative Fund, The National Rifle Association and many other national and state organizations. None of us could ever thank enough the early pioneers of the sport that through their tireless efforts put bowhunting on the calendar for all of us to enjoy. and most bow seasons are during the most beautiful time of the year to be out in the fields. We have some of the most liberal hunting seasons here in the U.S. Im totally amazed at how good everything has become for all of us traditional bowhunters.